Johnson gives way out to Miliband

doctordunc Mon Apr 16, 2007 at 07:15:10 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

I think it's pretty clear that David Miliband would prefer not to stand for the leadership in this election.  If that is the case, Alan Johnson has helped no end, saying that it is not his time.



Alan Johnson has suggested that fellow Blairite David Miliband might well make a good future Labour leader, but now isn't his time, and his candidacy would be largely pointless.

Although Johnson goes on to essentially argue for a coronation of Brown (and I, obviously, fundamentally disagree with him about that) there is a nagging logic to his point: if Miliband would be standing JUST to avoid a coronation, but essentially on the same policy platform, then it is little more than gesture politics.

Johnson takes the opportunity in the article to give Brown very fulsome backing (ending anybody's last ditch hopes that Johnson might stand himself!)

I think Miliband is a bright enough chap to find himself agreeing whole-heartedly with Johnson...


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Johnson gives way out to Miliband | 8 comments (8 topical)

Re: Johnson gives way out to Miliband (#1)

by Andrea on Mon Apr 16, 2007 at 07:21:32 PM GMT

"Alan Johnson has suggested that fellow Blairite David Cameron might well make a good future Labour leader"

Freudian slip or did I have miss something (something like Cameron defecting to Labour and Ann Winterton leading the tories in his place)?


Re: Johnson gives way out to Miliband (#2)

by doctordunc on Mon Apr 16, 2007 at 07:23:15 PM GMT

Oh God!  Sorry! I WILL keep doing that (I typed Cameron instead of Miliband about 20 times yesterday!!)  Will correct it forthwith!


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Re: Johnson gives way out to Miliband (#3)

by bornin84 on Mon Apr 16, 2007 at 10:27:12 PM GMT

"Johnson gives way to Miliband" or maybe Johnson is just worried that Miliband will be seen as the heir to Brown, the next leader but one, and dent his own hopes of taking over after Brown.


Re: Johnson gives way out to Miliband (#4)

by doctordunc on Mon Apr 16, 2007 at 10:30:34 PM GMT


Maybe - but personally I suspect that Johnson is doing Miliband a favour.


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Re: Johnson gives way out to Miliband (#5)

by sianlloydwebber on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 12:58:25 AM GMT

Although these top-level politicians probably operate at far deeper level than we can fathom, it appears to me that Johnson is very cunningly hedging a 3-way bet : firstly, showing loyalty to Brown (to ensure a cabinet post in future) by openly appearing to discourage Brown's competitors; secondly, in the long-term - with the real prospect of Miliband becoming a future Labour leader (say, if Labour loses and Brown then resigns after the next General Election) - showing his loyalty to Miliband by saying that he's of course a PM material, but only too young; and thirdly, not ruling himself out in the immediate term if opportunity so arises.  


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Three way bet (#6)

by Mark Wadsworth on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 10:05:28 AM GMT

That is a fantastic summary.

I'm thinking, in DM's position how can he NOT stand? Let's not forget that David Davies was also seen as a shoo-in but the younger nimbler policy-lite DC snuck in ahead of him. DM has a one-in-six chance of becoming the next Prime Minister. What on earth is he going to say to his grandchildren if he chickens out now?


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Re: Johnson gives way out to Miliband (#7)

by petercoe on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 12:59:02 PM GMT

Mike Smithson on Political Betting has diametrically the opposite view of Johnson's intervention.  I have to say that I find Mike's analysis - while not totally convincing (I'm not sure Johnson is so petty ) it's more credible than Wiseman's.

Here'st the link to Political Betting.


Re: Johnson gives way out to Miliband (#8)

by JR on Tue Apr 17, 2007 at 05:30:57 PM GMT

What a shambles. Doesn't one Blairite actually have the guts to give us our democratic right?

David Miliband will not get another chance. If he wasn't brave enough or ready enough to rise to the occasion now, then he does not deserve it in a couple of years time, when by that time we'll be back on the opposition benches and Cameron will be PM.

I bet Brown himself could never have imagined getting the keys to Number 10 would be so easy.


Johnson gives way out to Miliband | 8 comments (8 topical)